A Second Helping of Steven Johnson’s punt return TD against Philly

Doc BearOct 29, 2013 2:00 PM

There has been no shortage of exceptional special team players with the Denver Broncos this year. Among them is linebacker Steven Johnson, currently second to Jacob Tamme with four tackles and an assist.

Johnson's signature play of the season was his Week 4 blocked punt and touchdown return against the Eagles that resulted from two factors: a quick explosion off the snap to the right side of Eagles long snapper Jon Dorenbos (46), and blown blocking assignments by the offensive line. Let's take a detailed look at what happened.

As you'll see below, the Eagles put four men on the offensive right - the special teams guard and tackle, plus two more - running back Chris Polk (32) and safety Colt Anderson (30). Johnson makes his charge through the A gap between the center and right guard - the guard is ‘covered’ (looking directly at) by Johnson but blocks down (to his own right) on Adrian Robinson (57) while the snapper blocks to his left, making Johnson's charge up the middle easier.

Polk goes outside to block Jacob Tamme, and Anderson is caught inside as Johnson comes off the snap perfectly. Linebacker Brandon Graham (55), playing right guard, goes to his own right, blocking down on Robinson. Casey Matthews (50) also drives to his right, opening with a ‘bucket step’ (to the rear and, in this case, to his right), anticipating a mad dash to the ball. Dorenbos, for whatever reason, blocks to his left, effectively triple-teaming Joel Dreessen because Andre Caldwell (12) drops back, rather than attack the punter, thus leaving an extra blocker.

Taking advantage of Dorenbos’ move, Johnson shoves him at an angle from right to left, and uses the momentum from his push-off to create even more speed on his attack.

The ‘shed’ techniques of a linebacker (including this one) are, according to linebacker guru Lou Tepper, the most important skills a linebacker can develop. Johnson does this so fast that the offensive right side blockers are caught unawares. That’s why the shed matters so much.

I’m going to put a second image up of Johnson’s technique on the center below, to show the problems with the Eagles' blocking assignments. Notice that Robinson has his arms out, sealing off Johnson’s attack from Matthews, and helping define Johnson’s lane? That suggests that this is a designed play - Robinson knows to do that.

David Bruton (30) is beating his man around the edge one-on-one and attacking the punter; few of the Eagles even see the blocked punt. Graham is either attacking Montee Ball or is already getting downfield - probably the latter.

So far this year, I’ve watched Broncos making impact plays by holding to their fundamentals and outperforming their opponents. Johnson is showing that he’s going to be ready when there’s an opening at middle linebacker, and he has a bit more experience. Developing depth is one of the keys to sustained winning.

Twice in about two seconds, Johnson shows his speed, football intellect, and knowledge, after defeating the line of scrimmage. His first smart technique is in moving to the punter’s right side when attacking the punt, to avoid any possibility of a roughing penalty.

The second point of note comes when Johnson steps to own his left to pick up the ball. He almost reaches toward it from behind, then catches himself and moves out to his left (where he should go) so that if he muffs the recovery, he can still move after the ball. If one tries to run in from behind a fumble and misses, they're just going to overrun it.

If he wasn’t trying for the TD, Johnson should have just slid to the ground around the ball, fetal-style, to prevent anyone else from prying or kicking it out, but his technique is solid for six quick points.

Accompanied by his escorts, Johnson dashes into the endzone for the score. This is a very heads-up play, start to finish, from one more among Denver’s long list of young, skilled players.

Special teams have indeed been very special for Denver this year, and combined with the barrage of Peyton Manning’s incredible passing, this play was a final backbreaker for the Eagles.

I seem to recall another young undrafted linebacker who started out on special teams and has gone on to start for Denver at middle linebacker. Johnson may be on the road to a similar career path to Wesley Woodyard’s - I love watching him on special teams for now.

From Trindon Holliday’s quick six returns to blocked punts by David Bruton and Steven Johnson, good special teams play has been a key aspect of Denver’s winning ways.

Whether it’s Nate Irving, Holliday, Bruton, Johnson, or Jacob Tamme (who has six ST tackles in his past three games), one or more of the special teamers seem to be stepping up every week. That’s going to go a long way towards moving the Broncos to their final goal for 2013.

Learn to laugh at yourself. You will be ceaselessly amused. - Sri Gary Olsen

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On the verge of setting records and some moron on our staff/team decides to kick to him not only once but twice in the same game.

The height of DUMB.

Posted by Lonestar47 on 2013-10-30 17:12:33

Denver surely did wander in the ST wilderness before Rodgers taking over - he's done a great job with the squad

Posted by Doc Bear on 2013-10-30 13:24:29

I'm sure you mean Dante Hall for the Chiefs. I think he did pretty well by us.

Posted by MakeCents02 on 2013-10-30 10:59:33

Not a coaching decision, of course, but TD blew out his knee in '99, and that pretty much completed the implosion. The Dale Carter signing was, in my opinion, the beginning of the end that was a decade in coming - pursuing once productive, but iffy free agents in search of that "one more guy" to make the playoffs.

Speaking of coaching, did it hit anyone else after the game Sunday that we saw a quintessential Shanahan game arc? Fight hard, jump out to a lead, then try and make that lead last 60 minutes? The result was about the same as when Shanahan was on our sideline, and Manning was on the other.

Posted by MakeCents02 on 2013-10-30 10:55:24

Great piece of work, Doc! Blocking a punt has to be a highlight of any ST player's game. When I played in HS - I came within a whisker of blocking one and in another case - I hurried the punter enough that when I picked myself up and turned around - there was the ball bouncing back to me. I think I advanced it a yard before being tackled. Coach almost had a heart attack as I was a lineman - not a RB.You described some important points in dealing with fumbles or blocked punts. Johnson's side step helped him tremendously. He kept his body under control thru the entire process.This season is giving WW the exposure that he deserves and hopefully the payday that he also deserves. I doubt that the Broncos will let him go. Thanks, Doc!

Posted by BlackKnigh on 2013-10-30 03:14:36

After the '98 season we lost not only John Elway but also Steve Atwater - our leader on defense and Keith Burns - the leader of ST. Shanny thought that the CB from KC was better than keeping Atwater around. That one blew up in his face! And, of course, 1999 brought Brian Griese in as starting QB when Bubby Brister thought he had the job from the beginning of TC. Shanny was a very good coach who had his disparaging moments.That was the end - IMO - our our very good ST play. Pretty much up until now.

Posted by BlackKnigh on 2013-10-30 03:07:41

IIRC it was shanny and his genius cabal of coaches that decided to kick to Hester and the guy from KC (forget his name) who buried any chance of winning the game.

Burns was one hell of a ST guy and IIRC is tannys ST coach as we speak.

Beyond him thou I dreaded to see 4th down.

Posted by Lonestar47 on 2013-10-30 02:28:37

Do you see Johnson taking over for WW at mike if they fail to resign him?

Personally I'd hate to see that but there is only so much money to go around.

But we all know we are going to lose a couple of players.

Does anyone think WW as a very undersized MLB finds a team that will pay him big bucks. Just for his speed.

Posted by Lonestar47 on 2013-10-30 02:22:28

Nor can I provide the stats, but my memory comports with yours. It's been pointedly fun to go from fearing any special teams plays - especially in the close games - to feeling confident that we at least wouldn't screw up, to now looking forward to seeing a special teams play (well, unless we're punting, but how often does that happen?).

I remember one year under Shanahan that I thought we had noticeably good ST play - maybe because so many others weren't? I remember it because Keith Burns left the next year, and I thought "we must really miss him because our ST suck." Might have been '98 good, '99 sucky, which would make sense.

Heck, remember when Elam missed a field goal right before half time, and it was returned for a touchdown? I sure do. It was on Monday Night Football, of all times. I had to go look it up - here if you must: http://youtu.be/kLZN0CabW6s - and Keith Burns is the only one that appears to be paying attention (and Ray Lewis laid him out).

Posted by MakeCents02 on 2013-10-29 23:32:17

One thing I disliked about Shanny (and McJedi) was our poor ST performances. I don't have any stats to back me up but it seemed this facet of the game was undervalued by both of them. It's great to see the Broncos making the most of our third team.

Posted by iamafreeman on 2013-10-29 20:34:08

You're right, Goeland - weakening their field position is a good strategy against KC. They should be a great challenge for the Broncos - Holliday, Bruton, Tamme, Irving and Johnson are the best of an excellent bunch for Denver, and we'll need them all to be at peak to take home both victories.

Posted by Doc Bear on 2013-10-29 20:09:44

cj's right - coaching is essential. Pretty much the same players can be on the ST squad two years running, but with a coaching change get much different results.

Other factors? You might recall that when the first Elway draft had ended, the ST coach was thrilled with his new LBs and DBs. You want guys like Johnson and Bruton, who have straight-line footspeed and who can also cut and tackle. Nate Irving's been earning some regulation playing time with both his on-field play on D and his ST work.

I love Tamme's attitude - he's only gotten 3 receptions this year, but he's put up 6 ST tackles and is starting to block better and better. Joel Dreessen has 3 receptions and 2 ST tackles as he returns, including a nice TD against Wash. It's a combination - each team needs a good ST coach (not easy to find) and the right kinds of blockers, gunners, specialists, etc. Hope that helps.

Posted by Doc Bear on 2013-10-29 18:12:32

Certainly something to this... its not the whole story as some teams have good special teams but lousy talent overall... I think coaching is an underrated determinant of good special teams play. But yeah, having good backups to play ST certainly can't hurt your ST prowess...

Posted by cjfarls on 2013-10-29 16:44:47

Good read, Doc. Thanks. It´s always great to see the more unheralded players being acknowledged in a very positive context. ST play might become crucial against KC, given how favorable their starting field position has been so far. So excited to see this team clicking in all phases of the game!

Posted by Goéland on 2013-10-29 15:35:17

I have ginormous respect for Jacob Tamme. One of the crucial cogs in the offense last year... uprooted by the emergence of Julius Thomas.. does he pout? No. He busts his ass on special teams. If all 53 players share this kind of work ethic... we got this championship.

Posted by heykyleinsf on 2013-10-29 14:52:24

I know you touched on it a bit but good special teams is just good depth of skilful players right? How many other NFL teams would have players as good and as experienced as Tamme, Caldwell, Bruton on special teams?